Noting that there are "considerable reservations about the modern Turkish state", Harry Reid (Comment, May 15) sees such "legitimate worries" as an argument for, and not against, early EU membership.

However, he fails to address the biggest worry of all: in its attitudes to religious liberty, the "secular" Turkish state has more in common with the former Soviet Union than with western democracy.

Article 24 of the Turkish constitution gurantees freedom of worship only, and not the right to change one's faith or to form an independent and legally recognised religious community.

That is why the European Commission's Proposal for Accession Partnership 2005 specified a number of measures for Turkey to take. These include, for example, freedom for "each community to choose its leaders without government interference".

Unless these reforms are fully implemented, Turkish EU membership will turn out to be a case of "marry in haste, and repent at leisure".

John Coutts, Stirling.